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Microsoft Q3 Profit Decline Expected

Microsoft earnings will be watched closely for signs of how Windows is faring against competition from tablets and smartphones.

From InformationWeek:

Microsoft is expected to report a modest sales increase for its fiscal third quarter when it posts earnings after the bell Thursday, despite a challenging environment in which many consumers are opting for Apple or Google-powered tablets instead of Windows PCs for their computing needs. Profits, however, are expected to be down as compared to the previous year.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial, on average, expect Microsoft to report revenue of $17.18 billion, up 4.6% from a year ago. Earnings are expected to come in at 58 cents per share, down slightly from 61 cents in fiscal Q3, 2011.